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There’s nothing like back-to-school season to make you realize how many things you haven’t done this summer.

Like, did you go to Nighttime Zoo?

Did you watch a free movie at the park?

How many times did you go to the beach?

“I live 10 minutes away from the beach and we haven’t gone once this summer,” said Jean Harding, a Clairemont working mother who sends her preteens to day camp. “We’re already buying school supplies and I feel like I haven’t actually experienced summer.”

Whether you’ve been too busy to enjoy it or you want to soak in as much daylight as possible, it’s not too late to go on some last-minute adventures before we have to say so long to summer.

Sure, some kids around the county are already back in class, and others go back after Labor Day, but the season’s not technically over and there’s still plenty left to do.

Fun things happen at amusement parks when the sun goes down: You get to see nocturnal animals, there are fireworks, and there’s no reason to worry about sunburns.

Over at the San Diego Zoo, the doors stay open until 9 p.m. until Sept. 2. ﻿At Nighttime Zoo you’ll see extra animal activity, evening musical performances and variety shows. Starting Sept. 3, the zoo will close at 6 p.m. For details, see
sandiegozoo.org.

Summer Nights at SeaWorld San Diego is winding down. The park is no longer open late on weekdays, but you can still catch Shamu Rocks and late-night fireworks from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Sunday, as well as Sept. 2; and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Aug. 31 to Sept. 1. See
seaworldparks.com for complete details.

Enjoying the music at these neighborhood concerts is just part of the draw. The true appeal of these free shows is that they bring out neighbors, families and even tourists for one giant community picnic.

Though many have wrapped up, two of the most popular locations still have a few shows left. La Jolla Concerts by the Sea are at Scripps Park at La Jolla Cove from 2 to 4 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 1. Coronado Summer Concerts are at Spreckels Park at 6 p.m. Sunday and 5 p.m. Sept. 1 and 8.

Why see a movie in an air-conditioned theater when you can watch one under the stars?

Summer Movies in the Park, a series that brings free, family movies to local community parks, has screenings through Sept. 21. Some standouts include “Big” at Old Town’s Heritage Park on Sept. 6 and “Rise of the Guardians” at the Oceanside Pier Amphitheater on Sept. 14. Movies begin at dusk, and you’ll find the complete schedule at
summermoviesinthepark.com.

Another popular option is Stone Late Night Movies. Though this Escondido series is usually reserved for adults only, it closes out its season with a free, all-ages screening of “The Princess Bride” at 8 p.m. Wednesday. For directions and details, see
stoneworldbistro.com.

How much does your student know about Puck and Shylock? Get teens ready for English lit by catching a production at the Old Globe’s 2013 Shakespeare Festival.

The Balboa Park theater is currently staging “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” through Sept. 29; “The Merchant of Venice” through Sept. 28; and the Shakespeare-inspired “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” by Tom Stoppard through Sept. 26.

Tickets are $29 to $97. For showtimes and additional details, call (619) 234-5623 or see
theoldglobe.org.

Sure, baseball technically goes way into October. But we’re talking about the Padres. And there’s something about spending three hours eating peanuts in the sun that just doesn’t happen when the routine of homework and soccer practice sets in.

The Padres are home this weekend against the Chicago Cubs and again during the first week of September against the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies. Their final week of home games begins Sept. 20 against the L.A. Dodgers and ends Sept. 26 versus the Arizona Diamondbacks. (The Padres’ final game this season is Sept. 29 at San Francisco.)

Even though our hottest days are yet to come, sliding down tubes of water and lounging on a lazy river are quintessential summer experiences. And there are plenty of spots throughout the county ready to provide lasting memories — however awkward those may be.

SeaWorld just opened Aquatica in Chula Vista, and it has child-friendly and teen-approved slides. Admission ranges from $25 to $38, and details are at
seaworldparks.com/en/aquatica-sandiego.

Legoland California’s water park is great for young kids, thanks to its massive shallow-water area. Tickets are $66 to $93, with details at
california.legoland.com.

If you’re looking for a mom-and-pop option that won’t break the bank, Vista’s The Wave water park has slides and pools with admission below $20. Details at
thewavewaterpark.com.

These last few weeks of summer are actually the best beachgoing days. The tourists are mostly gone, you won’t have to sit in hours-long traffic just to park, and the sunsets get even prettier.

If you have a regular beach spot, take an adventure to one you’ve never visited.

“We’ve never actually been to the beach in Oceanside,” said Harding. “But I have a vision of packing up the car, bringing snacks and magazines, and just planting there for the whole day. I guess I have to do it soon. Time’s running out.”